Having a swollen penis is not a good sign. This can be a symptom of infections, STIs, fractures, or fibrosis, and requires medical assistance for treatment. Check out the main causes and treatments below.
A swollen penis can indicate problems for your sexual health. The swelling is often accompanied by pain or other symptoms, and ignoring it can lead to serious complications.
Swelling that has no obvious cause (such as, for example, appearing after sexual intercourse), presenting other symptoms like pain, redness, and discharges, or persisting for too long can represent a danger.
Although not all swelling is a cause for concern, men should always seek a doctor to analyze the case and receive appropriate treatment.
Causes of Penis Swelling
The penis can swell for various reasons.
These range from physical trauma, such as an accident, inflammations due to infections, allergic reactions present in items like condoms, and underlying medical conditions, such as STIs.
Understand what the main causes of swollen penis are.
Penis Inflammation
Penis swelling can be a sign of inflammations, which can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Some examples are:
Chlamydia
Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis.
It can cause penis swelling due to tissue inflammation, in addition to symptoms like discharge and pain when urinating.
Genital Herpes
Genital herpes is a viral STI transmitted during unprotected sexual relations with an infected person.
Often, the condition is asymptomatic. However, its most characteristic symptom are lesions or blisters that appear in the genital area. The swelling of the penis is a result of the inflammatory response to the viral infection.
Gonorrhea
Gonorrhea is a bacterial origin STI caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
In men, it can cause symptoms such as urethral discharge, pain when urinating, testicular pain, and penis swelling, due to inflammation at the site.
Balanitis or Balanoposthitis
An inflammatory condition that affects the glans of the penis, balanitis can manifest with symptoms such as redness, pain, itching, sensitivity, and discharge in the area, in addition to swelling due to the inflammation of the tissues of the penis head.
When the inflammation reaches both the glans and the foreskin at the same time, it is called balanoposthitis. In this case, the man also gets the foreskin swollen.
Penile Fractures
The rupture in the tunica albuginea leads to penile fracture.
This can happen due to impacts in the genital region, such as traumas during sexual activity, shock with objects, or even sleeping face down while having a nocturnal erection.
The most severe cases lead to intense pain and sudden swelling, because of the blood spill and inflammation in the area.
Peyronie’s Disease
Peyronie’s Disease is a condition that can make the penis bent, thinned, and/or shortened due to the development of fibrosis inside it.
In some cases, at the beginning of the disease (inflammatory phase), it is possible to notice the penis swollen. This is a response to the tissue healing process.
Priapism
Priapism is a medical emergency. Characterized by a long and painful erection, the penis can become swollen due to increased blood flow to the corpora cavernosa. The swelling can be accompanied by pain and sensitivity.
Urethritis
Urethritis is an inflammation of the urethra – the channel that carries urine from the bladder out of the body.
It generally presents symptoms such as pain or burning when urinating, discharge, and increased urinary frequency. Moreover, as the tissues around the urethra inflame, there can be localized swelling and sensitivity in the genital area.
Allergic Reactions
When the skin of the penis comes into contact with substances to which the man is allergic, the penis can become swollen, in addition to showing redness, itching, and a burning sensation.
Allergic reactions are usually motivated by chemicals present in soaps, detergents, lubricants, condoms, or synthetic materials in underwear. Some men may be allergic to certain materials in condoms, such as latex.
Masturbation
When to Seek Professional Help
In case of a swollen penis, it is important to seek a doctor if the edema is persistent, causes intense pain, and/or is accompanied by symptoms such as fever, discharge, or lesions. You should also seek help if the swelling occurs after a trauma.
Men who have a history of chronic conditions, such as diabetes, blood coagulation disorders, or cardiovascular problems, for example, need to act more quickly. These diseases are risk factors for serious sequelae, such as erectile dysfunction.
Most Recommended Treatments
Treatments for a swollen penis vary according to the cause.
Generally, mild cases of swelling can be treated with some rest, cold compresses, and elevation of the penis. These measures also help relieve discomfort.
If the swelling is caused by an infection, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics, antivirals, or antifungals. Often, they are combined with anti-inflammatories to reduce inflammation and relieve pain quickly.
More severe cases of penile swelling, such as priapism or penile fracture, may require surgical procedures.
Moreover, edemas stemming from Peyronie’s will need to be cared for looking at this specific condition, which, in many cases, requires surgery for the removal of fibrosis, penis recovery, and insertion of a penile prosthesis.
How to Avoid Problems
Many times, cases of penile swelling can be avoided. Learn how:
- Practice good genital hygiene and wash the penis correctly
- Avoid using products that may cause irritation and allergy on the skin
- Use condoms during sex to reduce the risk of STIs
- Avoid applying too much pressure on the penis during masturbation or sexual intercourse
- Prefer sexual positions that do not strain the penis
- Avoid sleeping face down
- Avoid wearing tight underwear and clothing
- Keep your health in check, especially diabetes and hypertension
